Beyond The Impossible

United States Capitol, Washington D.C.

All cameras are on the luxury car approaching the crowd of journalists: entirely black, windows included, with only a few highlights and glowing LEDs replacing the exhaust pipe.

There is no human driver: the car is driving itself, because its most famous passenger doesn’t have a license. Noriko Null and Vesta step out of the vehicle, their image taken by hundreds of cameras.

They’re much more formal than usual: Noriko has traded her usual leather jacket for a somber black and white office suit, while Vesta has replaced her jeans for a modest red skirt; they’re both even wearing high heels.

<Is all of this pageantry really needed?> the goddess whispers, uncomfortable in the spotlight.

<Relax, it will be fine. I couldn’t talk Congress out of asking us full disclosure of what we know about the Galaxy, but the hearing will be closed to the public. It’ll be a piece of cake.>

<Easy for you to say, you’re not really here> Vesta mumbles.

<Sshh. Don’t ruin the illusion> Noriko tells her, as they both enter the building.

 

Mandarin Oriental, New York

With Null Tower still under reconstruction following the Winter King’s attack, the personnel has been transferred to some of the other properties Noriko owns in the city.

There is a glaring exception: Noriko’s father Bob, his companion Dr. Catherine Kalama and their daughter Nalani are enjoying the Presidential Suite of one of the city’s most luxurious hotels.

Even though the TV screen is showing images of Noriko entering the Capitol, the billionaire girl is sitting on a couch looking at the news.

<We’ll keep you posted in case of new developments in the story, however the testimony is scheduled to last at least four hours. We return to New York City where Null’s former public relations manager, Todd Slate, is leading the polls for next week’s special election. Will he become the youngest Senator in New York’s history?> the announcer rhetorically asks.

<Are you sure you don’t want some?> Bob asks, raising his voice above the TV volume when offering his daughter a slice of cake.

<No, thanks. The S.I.F. units are not designed to eat.>

<So you’re able to see and hear everything from all of your androids, at once? Amazing!>

<Not really, but it’s very useful. I can understand how Kari feels now.>

<Are you sure you don’t have time to drop by in person? It doesn’t feel right to talk to one of your robots on your birthday.>

<It’s not really my birthday, you know. Thanks to the time dilatation effect during the search for the Dragon Tomb, I’m over eight months younger than what the calendar says.>

<Speaking of that, are you still seeing that Voron guy? I mean, I thought Todd was a little too old for you, but this Russian guy is my age!>

<First, Dmitry is two years younger than you. Second, we’re not dating, he’s my research assistant. Third, even if we were dating, it would not be any of your business, alright?> she answers, leaving the couch to get some space. She could just disconnect the link to this android body, but that would be way too awkward. She just stares at the window for a few seconds, until she’s distracted by something pulling the leg of her pants.

<Noni?> the baby calls her. Noriko looks down at her baby sister Nalani, uncertain what to do.

<It’s “Noriko”> she corrects her.

<Noniko! Noniko!>

<Close enough. Ehm, can somebody please…?>

<Sorry, sorry! I can’t get my eyes off you for a second, can’t I?> Dr. Kalama asks her daughter, who responds with laughter when her mother picks her up.

<Happy birthday, Noriko. Enjoying your vacation?>

<You can say that. And thank you for not throwing a surprise party, Doctor.>

<Kari and Lily were the easy ones, they don’t celebrate birthdays. Max really wanted to have a party, but Lily managed to… oh, almost forgot!> the doctor recalls, struggling to take something from her pockets while still holding Nalani. She succeeds in recovering a thumb drive.

<It’s from Lily. She wanted me to have a look at it first, but this is way above my head.>

<I thought you said Lampyrians don’t celebrate birthdays.>

<It’s not a present. It’s her design for some sort of super-crops resistant to any weather.>

<I’ll have a look at it> Noriko says, positioning the device behind her left ear; it’s hidden by her hair, but there’s a noticeable “click” before she takes it out.

<Hmm, looks promising. What’s your take on our latest resident alien?>

<You should ask Max, he’s passing a lot of time with Lily. Kind of like you and Voron.>

<I don’t know what… Do you have to stand there? You’re blocking the Sun.>

<What?> the doctor asks, confused by the non-sequitur.

<Uhm, nothing. Just a glitch in the communication matrix. Do you mind if I switch off this unit?>

<No, I don’t… what does it mean?>

Noriko’s eyes shine briefly, and she jerks her head unnaturally before she addresses her again.

<I’m sorry, mistress Null has disconnected. Do you still need this S.I.F unit?> the android asks.

<No thanks, we’re good> Dr. Kalama answers, holding Nalani a little tighter; not only that sudden head movement was horrifying, but it’s creepy hearing Noriko’s voice and knowing it’s not her.

<Very well. Have a pleasant day> the android says politely, before leaving.

 

Null Island, Pacific Ocean

Laying on the beach of her own private island, Noriko Null takes off the high-tech sunglasses.

<I said, you’re blocking the Sun> she repeats.

The man in a swimsuit in front of her gets closer, sitting next to her.

<I was just testing how well the software handles multiple stimuli> Dmitry Voron tells her.

<Yeah, sure. Just don’t do it again> she replies, putting the glasses on again.

They stay silent for a while. Sunbathing isn’t normally Noriko’s thing, but after her fight with the Winter King she’s actually enjoying the warm weather.

<Are they asking you about me?> Voron asks, breaking the silence.

<Uh? No, why would they?>

<Because granting asylum to the former head of superhuman research of the Russian government is bound to be of interest to the United States.>

<Oh. You’re talking about Congress. Yes, they did ask, but I didn’t tell them you work with me.>

<Aren’t you under oath? I thought lying to Congress was… who did you think I was talking about?>

<Nobody in particular> she replies, rather unconvincingly.

<Are you avoiding talking to your friends about me?> Voron asks.

<Don’t be ridiculous. They already know that we work together now.>

<Do they know we also sleep together?>

<You’re just impossible> she complains, standing up and angrily walking away. He chases after her, catching up rather easily.

<Null, wait, you seem upset. Is this something we should discuss?>

<You’re not my boyfriend, Dmitry> she says rather bluntly.

<Yes, I know, you made it very clear that you’re not looking for a relationship. So what?>

<So, I don’t want my family and friends to think I’m that kind of girl.>

<What kind?>

<For the second smartest person in the world, Dmitry, you can be unbelievable dense at times.>

<And for the only human smarter than me, you can worry about the stupidest things. Why does it matter what other people think about us? We’re smarter than everybody else. We’re better than everybody else> he says, taking her hand and pulling her closer.

<Or maybe you’re looking for something more than a friend with benefits.>

<You’re a bad influence on me> she responds with a smile, letting herself get in his arms.

<Isn’t that what you like about me?> he asks rhetorically, kissing her.

But their lips barely touch before there’s a distractingly loud noise coming from Noriko’s left wrist.

<Something’s wrong> she says, looking at her prosthetic arm: a portion of the skin retracts, showing a small screen.

<Other than the universe’s timing?> Voron comments.

<One of my satellites picked up something in orbit, but then it disappeared. I should be able to figure out what…> she says, stopping when a bright light appears next to the two geniuses.

<Can’t I have one birthday when nothing weird happens!?> she wonders, just when the light disappears to leave in its place a man in his thirties.

What he’s wearing is unmistakably a military uniform, a white shirt-tunic with golden epaulettes and a symbol on his chest: a cog with a lightning bolt inside it.

He looks rather confused at Noriko, not recognizing the short girl in a bikini until she lifts her sunglasses and her silver eyes shine.

<You’re from the Athenian Federation?> she asks, recognizing Athena’s insigna.

He stands at attention, placing his right hand over the heart, with the palm facing downward.

<Ητ ησ α χονορ το μεετ γοου, Λαδγ Νουλλ> he says.

<Hold on, let me switch the translator back on> she tells him, pressing a button on her arm; it’s one of the few times she’s grateful of having an artificial arm, or she would’ve needed to translate everything to Voron since he doesn’t speak Olympian.

<There. Say again?>

<It is a honor to meet you, Lady Null; I am Liosthenes, Lieutenant Trierarch of the Athenian Federation Fleet. Can we speak in private?> he asks, barely giving any attention to Voron.

<We can speak now. Start by telling me how you reached Earth> she answers, crossing her arms. She’s not comfortable wearing so little clothing in front of a complete stranger.

<The Demosthenes, ma’am; it’s in this planet’s orbit, hidden from the technology of the locals.>

<Must be the ship that Athena promised to send to protect Earth. Are we under attack again?>

<Not right now. But the fate of the Olympian Galaxy is in grave danger.>

<Of course it is. Nobody ever comes to give me good news> she says, rolling her eyes.

 

Asphodelus, 50.000 light-years from Earth

This world is well known to the rest of the Olympian Galaxy, with countless legends surrounding it. They say it grants its inhabitants eternal youth, that suffering and want don’t exist on its surface, that only the most devout followers of the gods are granted the privilege of living here. Of course, there is no way to demonstrate any of this, since no ship has ever returned from this solar system and since there are virtually no electronic devices on Asphodelus.

There is some truth to the legends. Asphodelians stay young for thousands of years, disease is unknown, and the ground is so fertile that the mortal population is in the hundreds of millions even though Asphodelus would normally be considered to still be living in the stone age.

One of the vast fields of flowers that give the planet its name is disturbed by the arrival of a man riding a horse. In the always gentle climate of this world, he’s wearing a little more than a loincloth.

<Please forgive my interruption, Your Grace> he says, dismounting from the horse.

Two lions growl loudly at his first step. They’re protecting the woman who is crouching on the field, picking flowers and humming to herself. The man carefully gets closer, waiting for her to notice him while also staying away from the lions. After several minutes, she says:

<Oh here it is! Don’t I look adorable wearing this?> she asks, standing up and putting the flower on her red hair. She smiles, as if posing for a camera. When she doesn’t get an answer, she pouts.

<I knew I shouldn’t have followed Demeter’s suggestion to hire eunuchs for the temple. What is it?> she asks, holding out her hand. Something flies out of the messenger’s grip: a scroll. She stares intensely at it, then turns it upside down, then she scratches her head.

<I don’t suppose you know how to read this thing, sweetie?>

<Written language has been forbidden since time immemorial. I know, however, that the message was sent from Queen Hera herself.>

<Pff. Reading is boring anyway. I never had to learn that, and I was Queen Of The Universe! Maybe I should send her a letter: “Hera, this is your mother. Why don’t you visit your mother more often? Signed Rhea, your mother”. You should write this down, since I don’t know how to… hey, I just thought of something! If you write it, how will she know it comes from me?>

<I, uhm, I believe your message mentions multiple times that you are…> he timidly points out.

<I know! I’ll pay her a visit! Or even better, I’ll check on all my kids! They’ll be so happy to see me again… especially Demeter and little Hestia! I wonder how many planets they own by now?>